Reincarnation Paradise Park

Chapter 710: Chapter 20: The Young Monk Will See You Off

As the hints outlined in blood gradually faded, Su Xiao crouched in waist-high wild grass, and Bubu Wang lay on the ground as well. Sakura Matou behind them didn’t need to crouch at all, given her height.

This made Matou Gan Ye, enveloped in black smoke, particularly conspicuous. Su Xiao slowly approached him and kicked him to the ground.

”Sakura, make him crouch.”

Su Xiao looked at Sakura Matou. Only Sakura in the team could control Matou Gan Ye.

”Crouch?”

Sakura Matou tilted her head. Matou Gan Ye, surrounded by black smoke, hesitated for a moment before finally choosing to crouch.

Having reached near Liu Dong Temple, Su Xiao had to be cautious. Even before finding Liu Dong Temple, he could sense the malice emanating from it, which became even more apparent after interacting with the Old Priest.

Su Xiao crouched low among the wild grass, eyes fixed on the distant Liu Dong Temple.

Liu Dong Temple was built atop a mountain peak, while Su Xiao was at the base. Due to the distance and dim lighting, he could only vaguely see the temple’s main gate.

Hanging above the main gate of Liu Dong Temple were two square lanterns. Normally, lanterns are white or red, but these emitted a golden glow, enveloping the entire temple with a sense of sanctity.

Su Xiao had studied a detailed map of Liu Dong Temple. Entering through the main gate led to a semi-enclosed courtyard, somewhat resembling the layout of a quadrangle. This was the Main Palace of Liu Dong Temple. Passing through the Main Palace towards the deeper part of the temple was the Dharma Hall, equivalent to the temple’s central position. Further back was the Main Hall, akin to the temple’s backyard.

Overall, Liu Dong Temple could be divided into three areas, from front to back: Main Palace → Dharma Hall → Main Hall.

Although it seemed not very large, Liu Dong Temple covered an area the size of a football field, with dozens of various buildings combined. The three aforementioned areas were just the main regions, with some smaller areas not open to the public, so Su Xiao couldn’t find out about those smaller areas.

If Liu Dong Temple weren’t significant, it wouldn’t have become a local historical site.

Su Xiao’s purpose this time was to enter Liu Dong Temple, deciding whether to enter openly and boldly or to infiltrate secretly would depend on the content of the second phase of the Talent Awakening Mission.

Just as Su Xiao prepared to approach the mountain where Liu Dong Temple was located, a prompt from Reincarnation Paradise appeared.

[Prompt: Hunter has entered the barrier where Liu Dong Temple is located, completing the first phase of the Talent Awakening Mission.]

[The second phase of the Talent Awakening Mission has been activated.]

[Talent Awakening Task (Second Phase): Soul Lamp]

Difficulty Level: Lv.21

Mission Overview: Enter the deepest Main Hall of Liu Dong Temple and locate the Soul Lamp within.

Mission Information: The Main Hall is located in the deepest part of Liu Dong Temple, heavily guarded.

Mission Deadline: 1 natural day

Mission Reward: None

Mission Penalty: Deduction of one Talent Awakening opportunity, no further Talent Awakening Mission can be accepted in this world.

...

”Soul Lamp?”

Su Xiao didn’t know what a Soul Lamp was, as the mission information didn’t even provide a single illustration, just textual information.

If it was about finding something, then a frontal assault on Liu Dong Temple was obviously not suitable. Secret infiltration was the way to go.

”Bubu, you stay down the mountain with them. If discovered by the enemy, you can choose to save one and sell out another.”

Bubu Wang let out a soft bark, meaning: ”Master, understood. If there’s danger, sell out that dimwit Matou Gan Ye, and take Sakura Matou to find you to sign the Heroic Spirit Contract immediately.”

”Yes, that’s the idea.”

Su Xiao removed Dragon Slash from his waist and placed it into his storage space, tightened the black windbreaker on his body, and approached Liu Dong Temple under the cover of night.

Walking through waist-deep wild grass, Su Xiao’s eyes occasionally glanced toward the mountain-top Liu Dong Temple. After a series of preparations, he finally arrived here, but arriving wasn’t the main point. He still needed to figure out how to infiltrate Liu Dong Temple.

Swish—

A few strands of wild grass were trampled flat as a figure dashed out of the grass. Su Xiao reached the foot of the mountain where Liu Dong Temple stood.

A staircase leading straight to the mountaintop appeared, intended for visitors to climb to Liu Dong Temple. Under normal circumstances, taking this path wouldn’t be an issue, but not now. Su Xiao wouldn’t climb the mountain via this staircase.

As Su Xiao prepared to bypass the staircase and ascend using the trees’ cover on the side, a young monk in gray robes descended from the stairs.

The young monk’s gray robe was somewhat tattered, with the knees being the most worn, displaying grass debris stuck by dirt.

Su Xiao was about to dodge into the wild grass when the young monk suddenly turned his head toward Su Xiao.

Their eyes met, and the young monk was visibly stunned. A cold gleam briefly flickered in his eyes but disappeared quickly. The young monk seemed puzzled, his expression turning kind.

”Benefactor, it’s dangerous to be outside at this hour. There are wild animals on the mountain; they don’t come out during the day but often forage at night.”

The young monk’s tone was gentle, but what puzzled Su Xiao was the excessive number of scars on the monk’s head.

Su Xiao wasn’t too familiar with monastery scars, but the monk had at least a dozen near his forehead, densely clustered. Not counting those on the top of his head, there might be dozens in total.

Moreover, these scars were red, faintly glowing in the night. Although this ’monk’ was smiling warmly, to Su Xiao, that smile could only be described as eerie.

”Benefactor? Benefactor?”

Noticing Su Xiao hadn’t spoken, the young monk slowly descended from the stairs.

”Did the benefactor get lost? Liu Dong Temple is not open to the public currently due to an internal ceremony. Please return, it will be open in some days.”

While speaking, the young monk stepped down the stairs. Initially, this seemed trivial, but just seconds ago, the young monk was at least several dozen meters away from Su Xiao.

”Is Ryudo Ichin not here? He lives at Liu Dong Temple, doesn’t he?”

Su Xiao spoke, and hearing his question, the young monk nodded.

”Ah, so the benefactor is looking for Ichin. He left Liu Dong Temple a month ago. Since the benefactor is a friend of Ichin, allow this humble monk to escort you back to Fuyuki City.”

The young monk was now within ten meters of Su Xiao, still closing in.

”Thank you, but I know the way down, no need to trouble you.”

Su Xiao turned to head into the wild grass. As he turned, the young monk’s lips curled.

Squelch.

A bone spur burst from the young monk’s head scar, the whitish bone spur stained with blood.

”No, this humble monk insists on seeing the benefactor off. The road back to Fuyuki City is too far; why not head to the Eternal Life Pool instead?”

Splat, splat, splat...

Bone spurs erupted from the young monk’s head scars. Blood trickled down his face. This was no monk—calling him a monster wouldn’t be an exaggeration. No, even a monster would turn and flee at the sight of this ’monk.’